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SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

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We encounter again the instruction neither to become entangled in circumstances, nor fall into emptiness ... neither remaining in one extreme or the other, finding that which embraces and expresses both.

But it is not something merely to talk or philosophize about experiencing life this way, like some "ARMCHAIR BUDDHA". Rather, it is to pierce the wholeness of Zazen, carve such into one's bones, bring such to life in this ordinary life.

Thus, the Xin Xin Ming tells us ...

The more you talk and think about it,
the further astray you wander from the truth.
Stop talking and thinking,
and there is nothing you will not be able to know.To return to the root [of emptiness] is to find the meaning,
but to pursue appearances is to miss the source.
At the moment of inner enlightenment
there is a going beyond appearance and emptiness.
The changes that appear to occur in the empty world
we call real only because of our ignorance.

The passage closes with a simple reminder that finding truth is not a matter of searching for truth. Rather ... dropping opinions, preferences, aversions and attractions ... neither caught in circumstances nor in emptiness, but knowing the wholeness of one as the other ... Truth is found.

Do not search for the truth;
only cease to cherish opinions.

D.T. Suzuki translates and expresses the wordless words of the passage this way:

Wordiness and intellection –
The more with them the further astray we go;
Away therefore with wordiness and intellection,
And there is no place where we cannot pass freely.
When we return to the root, we gain the meaning;
When we pursue external objects, we lose the reason.
The moment we are enlightened within,
We go beyond the voidness of a world confronting us.
Transformations going on in an empty world which confronts us,
Appear real all because of Ignorance:
Try not to seek after the true,
Only cease to cherish opinions.

Today’s Sit-A-Long video follows at this link. Remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells; a sitting time of 15 to 35 minutes is recommended

Re: SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

Re: SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

Hi,

I just added to the original post another translation by D.T. Suzuki, wordless words that hit the mark:

Wordiness and intellection –
The more with them the further astray we go;
Away therefore with wordiness and intellection,
And there is no place where we cannot pass freely.
When we return to the root, we gain the meaning;
When we pursue external objects, we lose the reason.
The moment we are enlightened within,
We go beyond the voidness of a world confronting us.
Transformations going on in an empty world which confronts us,
Appear real all because of Ignorance:
Try not to seek after the true,
Only cease to cherish opinions.

Re: SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

Just watched this talk for the first time.

Cool stuff.

Like the quote. :lol:

Someone said, "I was once struck by the idea of lightning."

I feel like Buddha is kicking my butt right now. Forcing me, if you will, to look deeply into myself
(something I'd rather not do) and examine my motives and fears (I'd rather have a beer and watch
a baseball game)...in other words, somehow, this crazy practice of just sitting, just sitting when
things are good, and just sitting when things are falling apart, this butt-to-solid-ground (or no-ground!)
practice of shikantaza, is opening my heart (not in a cheesy sense) by making me see how soft
and weak and vulnerable and strong and courageous and...well, human, it really is.

For instance, why does it seem like I only post on Treeleaf when I have something to whine about?

Or I'm afraid?

Or lonesome?

Such as the recent panic attacks. I look back over most of my posts and I realize how little I have
actually been there for others on Treeleaf. And then I look at how little I have been here for people
right in front of my nose.

I vow often to relieve the suffering of others. But do I? Or do I add to it?

Sitting zazen is like being opened by the skilled hands of a surgeon, only I am conscious so I either
look at what is sick and being cut away or I close my eyes.

Buddha is a good doctor. Tells the truth. Not afraid to touch a wound. That is, if I'm not afraid
to let him.

Re: SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

Re: SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

Gassho for this teaching Jundo sensei. I sometimes listen to the talks a few times before I comment. I really love this teaching. I didn't "get" this when I first started practicing Zen. It's funny how the teachings start becoming clearer and clearer over time.

It is scary to think that a little over 50 years ago, there were megalomaniacs wiping out people.. Hitler, Stalin. Then we dropped multiple bombs on Japan. It's just so scary. It wasn't that long ago.

Not to get political, but I often think of how our current times remind me of pre-World War II Germany. Money is tight, we need someone to blame. The Muslims or the immigrants. I hope it does not go that way. The US was founded on difference of culture; it gives us a richness. It was also founded on freedom of religion and separation of Church and State, so I hope cooler heads prevail in Washington.

Speaking of Hiroshima, yesterday I read that our largest nuclear bomb was disarmed, and we are opening an online embassy with Iran. I hope we see peace before my time is up here. I hope one day we can get rid of our weapons.

So back to this :mrgreen: I simply love this teaching. In my life, in my job in particular, I can have a lot of stress, but it's all about how I look at things. When things are broken, or have problems, I can freak out. I can worry that I'm not good enough, etc. But I've found if I can actually approach things with curiosity then all that other bs in my mind goes away.

This is a lot like zazen. Some days it's easy to say, "wow my zazen is really crappy today with all these thoughts running through my head". So you can force those thoughts out or get caught in them, or take a view of curiosity of what are those thoughts? Just observe them.. and let them go. Just like some other wise teachers talk about on here :mrgreen: That's very, very powerful, the calm in the storm.

Re: SIT-A-LONG with JUNDO: Xin Xin Ming - (VI) - Armchair Buddha

hi Cyril;

I lived in Hiroshima for 5 yrs, embalmed bodies that still showed the effect of the bomb 55 yrs later. In discusiions I would remind the Japanese that I also was a Gembako survivor. I was only eight when it happened but it gave usthe requird trauma to respect nuclear power. And, as for the other, we are all immigrants at one stage or another so, foged abou it !! :lol: We'll survive if we stay mindful.